You might be a Foxworthy fan if ...

After all, he's the guy who made it OK to use "redneck" as something other than a cultural slur. He's also written 28 books.

"The older I get, the more fascinated I am with the efficiency of words," said Foxworthy, the quasi-intellectual "redneck comedian" from Hapeville, Ga. "How do I convey a thought in the purest form without giving it away? It's weird how I've become a word person."

That's how it started for Foxworthy, who closes the Ironstone Amphitheatre summer concert season Saturday in Murphys.

"I took it from an insult to a little bit of a badge of honor," Foxworthy, who turns 54 today, said recently from Atlanta. "That's what they called me. I drove a truck, wore jeans and boots. They said I was 'nothing but a redneck from Georgia.'

"It started with '10 ways to tell a redneck.' They not only laughed, they pointed at each other. Ten became 100, became 500, became books and calendars."

It's been similar with the term "blue collar." Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy (Daniel Whitney) have collared consistent success with a tour by that name. It's on temporary hiatus after 31/2 years.

"It kind of implies, 'Don't take it too seriously,' " Foxworthy said. "A blue-collar guy with five bucks on a Friday night can have a really good time."

That's what Foxworthy's having with his newest word game - "The American Bible Challenge" on Game Show Network. It debuted Aug. 23.

"It's a Bible tribute," said Foxworthy, who also hosted Fox's "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" "I didn't wanna spend eternity in hell 'cause I did a Bible quiz show. I've been asked, 'Is it disrespectful?' But it was really fun. It's OK to talk about the Bible and use humor. With us Christians, the biggest weakness is a lot of them don't have a lot of joy."

Winners donate money to charitable causes.

"People were loving on everything," Foxworthy said. "These were regular people. We've gotten used to thinking religious leaders had all the knowledge.

"They said, 'Hey, we're playing for a Plano, Texas, food bank. They said $20,000 would buy them 80,000 meals. One group was doing it for breast cancer (research)."

Born in Knoxville, Tenn., Foxworthy lived in Greeneville, Tenn., before his family moved to Atlanta when he was 9.

"My family said, 'You've been making us laugh since you were 2. You were just hilarious,' " he said. "You can't teach 'em to be funny. You're either funny or you're not."

After he attended Georgia Tech University, co-workers at IBM told him he was. Foxworthy started doing stand-up routines in 1984, hitting on his redneck routine in 1987. By 1995, he had his own TV sitcom ("The Jeff Foxworthy Show"), had written "You Might Be a Redneck If ..." (1989) and recorded two of his three platinum albums. He also realized an iconic goal.

"There are 1,000 (TV) channels now," Foxworthy said. "When I was growing up, there were only three. When you got on Johnny Carson (NBC's "The Tonight Show"), that was the top of Mount Everest. I've got a photo of me with Johnny laughing. That's all I ever wanted."

Foxworthy also has written three "Redneck Dictionary" volumes and other guides to redneckery. A married father of two, he's published a series of children's books, invoking the linguistic rhythms of Dr. Seuss.

"As a dad," he said, "my greatest joy is when my kids are laughing."

Audience reaction is more of a mystery.

"I'm constantly amazed at a person's ability to stand and talk and make a roomful of strangers laugh," said Foxworthy, who was inspired by Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, George Carlin and Richard Pryor.